Life Changing Moments

We all have them right? Something happens, the wind shifts and the next thing we know our lives change. Sometimes it’s for the good, other times…well not so much.

I had coffee with a good friend of mine tonight and we spent most of our conversation catching up. Slowly we slipped into a discussion about life changes. It got me thinking. Where have my life changing moments come from? Many were born from experience. I can say with all honesty that in my thirty-three years I have encountered more life changing moments than some people experience in an entire life span. Okay, I can’t claim to have done it all, but on those tests psychologists make you take to determine how much stress you’ve encountered resulting from major life events…let’s just say I score HIGH. It’s been rough, yet rewarding.

But it’s not just those major events that have produce self-awareness and change. In fact some of the biggest internal changes occurred while my nose was buried deep within a book. It’s these books I want to share with you. These books that – in the immortal words of C + C Music Factory – make you go hmmm.  This list is nowhere near exhaustive and does not include the many fiction novels that have inspired me.

Drum roll please…..

• Wherever You Go, There You Are: Mindfulness Meditation in Everyday Life by Jon Kabat-Zinn
• The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron
• The Art of Non-Conformity by Chris Guillebeau
• Who Will Cry When You Die? Life Lessons from the Monk who sold his Ferrari        by Robin Sharma
• Finding Your Own North Star: Claiming the Life You Were Meant to Live                  by Martha Beck
• Taking Flight: Inspiration and Techniques to Give Your Creative Spirit Wings             by Kelly Rae Roberts
• Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
• Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom
• On Writing by Stephen King

There you have it folks. A glimpse into the inner workings of Moi. 😉

Note to Reader: I completely realize how strange it is that I incorporated a ridiculous song like Things That Make You Go Hmmm in an otherwise serious post. Such is my brain.